Christopher Columbus is the famous explorer credited with finding the New World. While some will point to Leif Ericson as the first, his discovery was not made public and, therefore, did not have any impact.
Despite finding the New World, he never knew it was a new continent and thought he found a new way to India.
Columbus sailed to the Caribbean on four separate voyages and helped forge what would become the Spanish Empire.
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Unfortunately, he is known for his brutality against the natives, although there is not any primary source documentation. These accusations came from rivals who wanted to take his place, which is something Christopher Columbus dealt with his entire life.
His discovery would begin the Age of Exploration into the New World. The Portuguese had already established their empire, but Spain would quickly become dominant. Soon Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro would conquer two empires and other Spanish Conquistadors would begin to push into the new continent and make new discoveries.
Also Read: 15 Famous Spanish Conquistadors
During a violent storm on his first return voyage, Columbus, then 41, had suffered an attack of what was believed at the time to be gout. In subsequent years, he was plagued with what was thought to be influenza and other fevers, bleeding from the eyes, temporary blindness, and prolonged attacks of gout.
The attacks increased in duration and severity, sometimes leaving Columbus bedridden for months at a time, and culminated in his death 14 years later.
Family Overview
Christopher Columbus was an Italian whose family lived in Genoa for at least two generations prior to him.
His father, Domenico, was a second-generation loom craftsman who seemed to be well-known for his work. There is little known about the rest of his life. There are some beliefs that they were secret Jews who hide their beliefs due to the religious climate.
There is not much known about his mother or her ancestry.
Columbus and his family became major players in the New World and New Spain. His brother often took care of his business when Columbus was away and helped found a city.
His son Diego also aided his father and tried to maintain his position from many rivals. He was unable to accomplish this after his father's death.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
Domenico Columbus (1418 - 1496) - He was a third-generation craftsman who lived in Geneva, Italy. It is suggested by some that the Columbus family was of Jewish descent but kept their beliefs hidden due to the Inquisition.
Susanna Fontanarosso (1435 - 1489) - Almost nothing is known about her before her marriage to Domenico Colombo in 1445 except that she was born in the hillside village of Monticellu on the then Genoese island of Corsica. She had five children.
Spouse:
Felipa Moniz Perestrelo (1457 - 1500) - was a Portuguese noblewoman from Porto Santo Island in Madeira, Portugal. She married Christopher Columbus in 1479 at Vila Baleira on the island. The two had one child together.
Beatriz Enríquez de Arana (1465 - 1536) - She was the mistress of Columbus and gave him one son.
Children:
Diego Columbus (1479 - 1526) - In 1509, he was named Governor of the Indies, the post his father had held. He established his home (El Alcázar de Colón), which still stands in Santo Domingo in what is now the Dominican Republic. He was made Viceroy of the Indies in May 1511, remaining in charge until 1518. He continued to fight encroachments on his power and for the remainder of his father's privileges and titles.
Hernando Columbus (1488 - 1539) - He was known as a scholar. He had a generous income from his father's New World wealth and used a sizeable fraction of it to buy books. Columbus traveled extensively around Europe to gather books, eventually amassing a personal library of over 15,000 volumes.
Siblings:
Giacomo Columbus (1453 - 1501) - There is not much known about him, but he probably married and had children. He died around the age of 48 years of age.
Giovanni Pellegrino Columbus (1455 - 1473) - There is not much known about him. He died before he was 20 years old.
Bartolomeo Columbus (1461 - 1514) - He would travel and meet his brother in 1494 in Hispaniola, where he would serve as governor during his brother's absence. He founded the city of Santo Domingo. He died around 53 years old.